Pension Scam: Emir Of Kano, Summoned
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Loading ...By Yakubu Salisu A, Kano
Emir of Kano and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Muhammadu Sanusi and ex-finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala have been summoned by members of the Nigerian House of Representation over alleged N200 billion pension scam.
An ad-hoc ad-hoc committee at the Nigerian lower house investigating activities of the defunct Presidential Task Force on Pensions Reforms between 2010 and 2013 invited Sanusi and Okonjo-Iweala to clarify issues raised at a public hearing in Abuja on Tuesday, March 6. 2018.
The invitation followed a motion by a member of the committee, Mohammed Nuhu Sheriff and adopted by the committee chairman, Anayo Nebe.
Justifying the invitation, Nebe said it was to enable the panel carry out thorough investigation of the controversies that trailed the now defunct task force.
“Between 2010 when it was established and 2013 when it was dissolved, over N200 billion of pensioners’ money was allegedly looted.” Nebe said.
Other past and present government agency heads invited by the lawmakers are former Head of Service, Steve Orosanye; former chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Ahmed Al-Gazali and current Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita.
Others are; the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; the Inspector-General of Police; Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The lawmakers noted that invitees are to appear before the Committee on Monday, March 13, 2018.
The task force on pension reforms was established on February 18, 2010 by ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to carry out holistic reform of the pension system in Nigeria.
However, In 2013, the chairman of the task force, Abdulrasheed Maina, was sacked after been accused of diverting over N3 billion of pensioners’ money. and the task force was disbanded.
Maina, in 2017, was reinstated and promoted as a director in the Ministry of Interior but was later disengaged from service on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari after several controversies.
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Source: Pulse
